BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1927, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

[nr TF.LEGHArit —run rnr.ss association.]

DUKE TURN'S CATHOLIC. LONDON, February 1

The Duke of .Marlborough was received into the Roman Catholic Church at a special service at Westminster Cathedral.

A HARDER TRIAL. LONDON, Feb. 1

Six women jurors were empanelled when John Alerrott (cabled December 1-th) stood bis trial at Edinburgh. He appeared in the dock in and overcoat. and horn rimmed spectacles. He pleaded not guilty. Airs Sutherland, a housemaid, gave evidence that after she left Mrs Alerrott- writing in the sitting room. John Alerrott was rehding. -She heard a shot and a scream and • h’lm entered the kitchen and said his mother had shot herself. John added: ' have been wasting mother’s money. I think she worried Airs Sutherland ioiind MA-s Alorrclt King on the floor no'ir a revolver at, the bureau. She denied telling a detective that she saw the revolver lading from her mistress’ hand. Her mistress told her she had had a hard lilt*, losing her husband during the Russian revolution. She was devoted to John. They appeared to he on most ‘affectionate verms. Inspector Fleming read John’s .statement declaring his mother complained ho was spending too much money and neglecting his studies. 'The mother was writing when ho pointed out a wrongly addressed envelope. She staid: “Go away you bother me.” I went to tlie other side of the room to get hooks and heard a report, I saw mother falling on the floor. Fleming said deceased’s hanking account was overdrawn. lie questioned her regarding three cheques amounting to £457 sterling, dated after his mother’s admission to the hospital. John said his mother had signed the cheques ami lie filled in the amounts which was the customary arrangement.

CAPE POLITICS. CAPETOWN, Feb. 1. The division of the session was over a private bill extending the franchise to European women, which a Cape member declared was Another colour bar. Eventually leave to introduce was defeated by G 3 to 39. HURRICANE TOLL, NEAV YORK. Feb. 1. Hurricanes continue to take toll of lives. The North Atlantic steamer Avoid arrived from Bermuda, and still bad the Bermuda pilot aboard. bis pilot’s boat having been swamped and six oarsmen drowned. It was, impossible to get another boat to take him off.

JAPANESE VIEW. TOKIO, Feb

The .Minister of the Navy interpellated the Budget Committee and said Singapore Base was like a hot stove. It was felt in all directions. Whether it was anti-Japanese especially it was impossible to say, but the fact remains that the Base constitutes an overawning new centre of the world. He said Japan was helpless as Britain was within her rights.

NEAV GUINEA PIGAfTES. LONDON, February

The “ Times’s ” Cairo correspondent says; “ The. discovery of an extraordinary primitive race of pigmies in the middle of the mountain country of New Guinea not previously penetrated by Europeans, ami encounters with a giant

race of Papuans, averaging over six feet, whose expression was made more ferocious by cross-skewers of wood through their nostrils, were described hv Professor Stirling on his arrival at Port Said.

He says the pigmies are a primitive people, without a kiml, or any kind of organised government. Each village is under a headman and elders. Their average height is four feet. They have wholly black skins. They have sturdy, well-knit bodies, and tire of a friendly, cheerful temperament. Their clothing is only a small loin cloth. They wear charms round their necks and occasionally thick netting over their heads. Professor Stirling found no traces of organised religion, neither temples, totems nor any places of worship or priests. They are still in the Stone Ago regarding implements, using stone axes and hammers as weapons.

TESTS FOR DRINKS. LONDON. February 1

The “ Evening News ’’ says: *‘ if the British Medical Committee’s ruling is accepted, the customary police tests for drunkenness, including tongue twisters such as “British Constitution.” “ fish sauce shop.” and walking a straight line, will be abolished. The C ommittee points out that if the smell of alcohol is not noticeable half an hour after arrest, drunkenness is unlikely. The police should note whether the prisoner’s eyes arc bloodshot. and whether he is talkative, sulky or abusive. . The Committee approves Hie police test of picking up a coin out of a dozen on the floor.